By Israel Ebube Ulebor
The Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, has expressed grief over the deaths of 32 persons in three separate road crashes recorded in Kogi, Ogun and Kwara states between Sunday and Monday, blaming speeding and other traffic violations for the fatal incidents.
The Corps, in a statement issued on Monday by its Corps Public Education Officer, Deputy Corps Commander Osondu Ohaeri, said the crashes also left 26 persons injured, while 18 others escaped unhurt. It described the incidents as tragic and largely preventable, attributing them to speeding, wrongful overtaking, dangerous driving, driver fatigue, poor tyre maintenance and the illegal practice of transporting passengers alongside goods.
According to the statement, the first crash occurred at about 12:30 p.m. on Sunday along the Okene Lokoja Road before Confluence University, Osara, in Kogi State.
The crash involved a MAN truck and a Toyota Sienna commercial bus carrying 10 persons. Seven persons, comprising six male adults and one female adult, died, while three male adults sustained injuries and were taken to Abobo General Hospital for treatment.
The FRSC said preliminary investigation showed that a tyre burst caused the fatal crash.
Later on Sunday, at about 8:05 p.m., another crash occurred at Sapade Bridge along the Ibadan Lagos Expressway in Ogun State.
The accident involved a SINOTRUK truck and a Toyota Hiace bus with 18 occupants. Ten persons, including nine male adults and one male child, lost their lives, while six others comprising four male adults and two female adults sustained injuries and were taken to Victory Hospital, Ogere. Two male adults escaped unhurt.
According to the Corps, preliminary findings showed that speeding, wrongful overtaking and dangerous driving caused the crash after the truck created a hazardous situation on the highway.
The third crash occurred in the early hours of Monday at Oko Olowo along the Ogbomosho Oloru Road in Kwara State.
The lone crash involved a DAF trailer conveying passengers and goods, with 48 male adults on board. Fifteen persons died, 17 sustained injuries, while 16 others were rescued unhurt.
The FRSC said investigation indicated that driver fatigue was the immediate cause of the crash, adding that the high death toll was worsened by the illegal practice of conveying passengers together with goods.
Reacting to the incidents, the Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, described the crashes as heartbreaking and entirely preventable.
He said recurring violations of traffic regulations, particularly speeding, wrongful overtaking, dangerous driving, poor tyre maintenance, driver fatigue and mixed loading, continue to undermine efforts to improve road safety across the country.
Mohammed urged motorists, transport companies and commercial vehicle operators to ensure that only roadworthy vehicles are put on the roads, tyres are routinely inspected and replaced when necessary, speed limits are obeyed and drivers take adequate rest before embarking on journeys.
He also warned against conveying passengers together with goods, stressing that the Corps would sustain aggressive enforcement against all traffic violations that endanger lives.
The Corps Marshal assured Nigerians of the FRSC’s commitment to safer roads through sustained enforcement, public education and prompt emergency response, while urging all road users to recognise that road safety is a shared responsibility.
